Okay then, Williams has one, Ferrari has one, Red Bull has one, might as well give HRT one! The old thread has served us well, but as they seem to be a more stable prospect than we initially labelled them, HRT deserves the yearly thread treatment most other teams recieve.

Now, as HRT go into their third year, and second year of designing their own car following the Dallara debacle, the team finds itself at an important point in its history. Expectations are growing, and while they are still predicted to be behind the midfield for most of the races, many are viewing it as vital that HRT occasionally climbs out of Q1, as Lotus (to be Caterham in 2012) have done this season. While many things are uncertain going into 2012, the team are at a pivotal point, especially if Marussia are able to improve over the winter and challenge the midfield.

Feel free to post about all things to do with HRT's 2012 campaign here, including the team, the car and the drivers. DO NOT treat this as a VS thread, a flaming thread, or anything of the like. This thread isn't intended to be a love in, but that is not justification for brainless flaming of a team entering their third year in the sport.

At first I considered that possibility, after all, I think that all HRT fans (andinterested parties) have memories of that 170+ page thread... However, I think that it is high time they converted to the format that other team's threads have used for a long time...

Some thoughts:
- Facilities. Kolles' garage might be good enough for the race team, but i think they need better facilities to be able to perform as a proper F1 team.
- Design team. Who's designing the 2012 challenger? I think they should finally ditch the Dallara, and bring a completely new car to Melbourne.
- Financial backing. This needs to be sorted asap, because otherwise they just won't move forwards.

But i find it encouraging that for a change the media isn't shouting about the team's bankruptcy. Hopefully they will be well prepared for next year.

Some thoughts:- Facilities. Kolles' garage might be good enough for the race team, but i think they need better facilities to be able to perform as a proper F1 team.- Design team. Who's designing the 2012 challenger? I think they should finally ditch the Dallara, and bring a completely new car to Melbourne. - Financial backing. This needs to be sorted asap, because otherwise they just won't move forwards.

But i find it encouraging that for a change the media isn't shouting about the team's bankruptcy. Hopefully they will be well prepared for next year.

I think they will stay in Germany and Jacky Eeckelaert will design next season's car. If they find someone to pay for it, that is - i haven't even heard rumours about new sponsors for the last few months now. I fear they'll just modify the F111 to 2012 regs.

Some thoughts:- Facilities. Kolles' garage might be good enough for the race team, but i think they need better facilities to be able to perform as a proper F1 team.- Design team. Who's designing the 2012 challenger? I think they should finally ditch the Dallara, and bring a completely new car to Melbourne. - Financial backing. This needs to be sorted asap, because otherwise they just won't move forwards.

But i find it encouraging that for a change the media isn't shouting about the team's bankruptcy. Hopefully they will be well prepared for next year.

The team will move under one roof in a new factory in Valencia, although the design office will still be in Munich. Jacky Eeckelaert is to head up the design project of next year's HRT.

It is understood that Eeckelaert will work with new chief aerodynamicist Stephane Schosse, who has worked at Toyota, Sauber and Ligier in the past, out of the team's Munich technical operations base.

Eeckelaert has vast experience in Formula 1, having work with Jordan, Prost, Sauber, Honda and Super Aguri, before joining HRT last year after a spell in sportscars.

Both last year and this year, the team has been unable to test its new car before the first race of the year, but Saul Ruiz said on Friday in Abu Dhabi it is expecting the new car will be ready in time for the first group test in February.

GP2 Race Winner Dani Clos tested in Abu Dhabi and stated that "the human and technical group they have is good and next year's project looks very promising. They are changing their car, headquarters and a few other things which will make the team more stable and attractive. Without a doubt these changes are for the better. From what I have seen they seem very ambitious and they are there to make it".

The team has announced it has extended it technical deal with Williams for the supply of gearboxes until the end of the 2012 season and added that the new deal provides for a greater technical collaboration "that will contribute to improving the performance level." Williams will also supply HRT with KERS and its related technology for the first time next year.

Tonio Liuzzi believes that his contract will be extended to maintain development continuity to which he has been a major contributor. This however has not been confirmed. Helmut Marko has indicated RB may well extend their deal to run one of their young drivers in 2012 but this will not be confirmed until after Brazil. Other contenders for a seat in 2012 are also thought to include Dani Clos, Vallteri Bottas, Narain Karthikeyan and Giedo Van Garde

Edited the OP with some information from this thread so far, so that hopefully we can cut down a little bit on the same question being asked multiple times (which seemed a bit of a problem in the last thread). Any speculation on sponsors for next year? Or livery rumours?

Helmut Marko has indicated RB may well extend their deal to run one of their young drivers in 2012 but this will not be confirmed until after Brazil.

I think it would be a good deal for both sides. Ofcourse depending on how much RB are willing to pay for the seat, but HRT get money and a fast if inexperienced driver. Atleast Ricciardo has impressed me this year and has done a good job for the team. Liuzzi is a solid and experienced driver and if there are no better candidates available then i think they should keep him.

Reading this thread it would seem that the team is finally starting to settle down and get on the job. As Marussia are rumoured not to have KERS next year, atleast HRT would have that advantage.

I think it would be a good deal for both sides. Ofcourse depending on how much RB are willing to pay for the seat, but HRT get money and a fast if inexperienced driver. Atleast Ricciardo has impressed me this year and has done a good job for the team. Liuzzi is a solid and experienced driver and if there are no better candidates available then i think they should keep him.

Reading this thread it would seem that the team is finally starting to settle down and get on the job. As Marussia are rumoured not to have KERS next year, atleast HRT would have that advantage.

Yes if HRT are doing in '12 what Team Lotus are doing this year that means they will have found 2.5 - 3s which would be some improvement, I can see HRT being ahead of Marussia next year again....

To clarify certain inaccuracies in the posts. HRT's initial 2012 design was completed by Geoff Willis before he left. The technical department consists of a nexus of Jacky Eeckelaert as TD, Jose Gallego Seguro, Chiel Designer and Stephane Schlosse, chief aerodynamycist.
They are continuing with the Williams LG14 gearbox with KERS added to the transmission. So the project hinges around improved aerodymanics and KERS integration, a manageable task for a small outfit.
I don't know how realistic the continued Red Bull tie up is. All the briefings from Thesan Capital seems to hinge around a spanish driver and Clos' recent comments would suggest he's in pole position if he can raise the budget.

To clarify certain inaccuracies in the posts. HRT's initial 2012 design was completed by Geoff Willis before he left. The technical department consists of a nexus of Jacky Eeckelaert as TD, Jose Gallego Seguro, Chiel Designer and Stephane Schlosse, chief aerodynamycist. They are continuing with the Williams LG14 gearbox with KERS added to the transmission. So the project hinges around improved aerodymanics and KERS integration, a manageable task for a small outfit. I don't know how realistic the continued Red Bull tie up is. All the briefings from Thesan Capital seems to hinge around a spanish driver and Clos' recent comments would suggest he's in pole position if he can raise the budget.

Yes the Red Bull program won't happen next year, Thesan have mentioned ether having a Spanish or Latin driver next year.

Marussia seem to be the only team without it. Glock spoke earlier in the year saying the 2012 Marussia wouldn't have it due to them needing to find more time than it was worth, but i believe every team needs it.

About running another Red Bull driver, I would say that's quite likely if Red Bull want to give Vergne a run. A Spanish pay driver may be desirable by the owners, but with the money not always guaranteed - and without knowing how much they could bring, a steady, reliable source of money from Red Bull would probably be first choice.

I really don't know about taking a Red Bull rookie driver. Its not a guaranteed revenue stream. What they really need is solid backing from a Spanish multinational. As for Vergne, the jury's out, a blind chimpanzee would be quick in an RB7.
With regards KERS HRT are running a more robust box than the Williams '11 unit.

If Alguersuari is the fall guy at Toro Rosso (although it seems to be Buemi at the moment), then he would fit in well with these plans to make the team Spanish. I wonder if Cepsa would follow him over, or if the deal with STR carries over into next year?

If Alguersuari is the fall guy at Toro Rosso (although it seems to be Buemi at the moment), then he would fit in well with these plans to make the team Spanish. I wonder if Cepsa would follow him over, or if the deal with STR carries over into next year?

Yes always thought CEPSA would be a good sponsor for HRT and would have fit with the livery of this year.... Alguersuari could still be the fall guy at STR yet... lets wait and see.

I really don't know about taking a Red Bull rookie driver. Its not a guaranteed revenue stream. What they really need is solid backing from a Spanish multinational. As for Vergne, the jury's out, a blind chimpanzee would be quick in an RB7.

It is guaranteed for as long as a Red Bull rookie is in the seat. Red Bull are not going to withhold payments like the paydrivers backers can do, nor have certain conditions that lets them pull out mid-season (was not that why Karthikeyan and Tata left?). All Red Bull want is a driver gaining experience in a car, and they'll be paying HRT for that until they call him up.

They've had two years without gaining any backing from Spanish companies, and the country is not in a financially healthy state right now. What HRT need is solid backing from anywhere they get it.

What I mean is the Red Bull backing is adhoc, they might have it for one year and not the next. The presumed change in government after tomorrow's election may result in some regional government backing. They can sell it as an infrastructure project where moderate investment results in high tech jobs for qualified engineers.

Marussia seem to be the only team without it. Glock spoke earlier in the year saying the 2012 Marussia wouldn't have it due to them needing to find more time than it was worth, but i believe every team needs it.

...which just makes it all the more unbelieveably baffling how on earth Glock could commit to Marussia long term!! Was he drunk?!

I'm sorry but the boat has past De La Rosa by. Experience is overrated, particularly if a driver is slow. The level of telemetry and simulation in modern F1 means the engineers effectively lead car setup.

I'm sorry but the boat has past De La Rosa by. Experience is overrated, particularly if a driver is slow. The level of telemetry and simulation in modern F1 means the engineers effectively lead car setup.

Indeed, plus having the experienced Liuzzi matched almost immediately by the rookie Ricciardo this year will probably make the team more likely to recruit youngsters with Red Bull backing or other financial support.

If Alguersuari is the fall guy at Toro Rosso (although it seems to be Buemi at the moment), then he would fit in well with these plans to make the team Spanish. I wonder if Cepsa would follow him over, or if the deal with STR carries over into next year?

He is holding the best qualifying and race positions of Toro, so I highly doubt it... When it comes to Sunday perfomances, he has done enough this year...

I'm sorry but the boat has past De La Rosa by. Experience is overrated, particularly if a driver is slow. The level of telemetry and simulation in modern F1 means the engineers effectively lead car setup.

De La Rosa was evenly matched with Kobayashi in terms of qualifying pace in 2010... Their battle finished 7:7...

Indeed, plus having the experienced Liuzzi matched almost immediately by the rookie Ricciardo this year will probably make the team more likely to recruit youngsters with Red Bull backing or other financial support.

Updated the OP, here is to hoping that the signing of de la Rosa bodes well for the team. Even as a fan, I will concede he is not the world's fastest driver, but as shown at Sauber he is a talented developer for a team that requires one at the time.

Sadly — lacking a better word — De la Rosa also raced in 2006, 2010 and 2011, otherwise the race for Jan Lammers' record of 3,745 days between Grand Prix starts would've been interesting.

(Lammers last competed in the 1982 French Grand Prix on July 25, 1982 and subsequently in the 1992 Japanese Grand Prix on 25 October 1992.)

Well, now I have another statistic to bounce around in my head (the more you know )

Honestly speaking, I wonder how Pedro will fair in the HRT... In 2006 when he replaced Montoya he was solid if unspectacular, scoring a podium in that dog of a McLaren. Probably didn't help the statisticians that his team mate was Raikkonen ... 2010 saw a well past his prime de la Rosa perform solidly, as did Canada 2011... I think that either we shall continue to see the solid developer that has made him a valuable test driver, or a second wind performance ala Liuzzi early this year...